diff --git a/src/files.rs b/src/files.rs
index f374974..0fd1ea2 100644
--- a/src/files.rs
+++ b/src/files.rs
@@ -363,10 +363,25 @@ impl Files {
             new.selected = selected;
             self.files.push(new);
         });
+
         self.sort();
+
+        if self.len() == 0 {
+            let placeholder = File::new_placeholder(&self.directory.path)?;
+            self.files.push(placeholder);
+        } else {
+            self.remove_placeholder();
+        }
+
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    fn remove_placeholder(&mut self) {
+        let dirpath = self.directory.path.clone();
+        self.find_file_with_path(&dirpath).cloned()
+            .map(|placeholder| self.files.remove_item(&placeholder));
+    }
+
     pub fn handle_event(&mut self,
                         event: &DebouncedEvent) -> HResult<()> {
         match event {
diff --git a/src/listview.rs b/src/listview.rs
index 7a3a5a0..3c85529 100644
--- a/src/listview.rs
+++ b/src/listview.rs
@@ -440,6 +440,11 @@ impl ListView<Files>
 
         self.content.set_filter(filter);
 
+        if self.content.len() == 0 {
+            self.show_status("No files like that! Resetting filter").log();
+            self.content.set_filter(Some("".to_string()));
+        }
+
         if self.get_selection() > self.len() {
             self.set_selection(self.len());
         }